In the office furniture industry, it’s the little things that thrill us. Some of us get excited by chairs, others by height-adjustable solutions, and then for some of us – it’s the fabrics. Maybe it’s the bright patterns, maybe it’s the performance of the materials; whatever the case may be, fabrics are a fascinating topic.

There seems to be an infinite number of patterns and colorways available from manufacturers and mills alike, and HON is no exception. However, in keeping with our tradition of rapid continuous improvement, we’ve made a commitment to introducing and discontinuing fabrics just twice a year: July and January. Today, we wanted to share with you a peak into our fabric strategy, showcase our latest set of introductions, and give you a sneak peek of what’s to come in July!

HON Core Fabric Updates

When specifying a HON project, we make sure that you have a good variety of options stocked in house and readily available. These core fabrics are the types of patterns and colorways that are timeless classics, and aren’t going to be a ‘flash in the pan’ trend. So, at the beginning of the year, we introduced a few new patterns and updated some of our existing, best-selling fabrics. Click on the names below to see them on HON.com!

Sixteen versatile colors, available in both neutrals and color accents

Partnership Textiles

For something a little trendier, or for alternative patterns that HON doesn’t offer in our core lineup, we partner with some fantastic fabric mills. Our most recent additions include patterns from CF Stinson, Maharam, Camira, and Ultrafabrics.

CF Stinson

We heard your pleas for partnership cards split out by grade, so our two new Stinson cards have just that: one with smaller to medium scale patterns in grades 3-5, and one with larger scale patterns in grades 5-10. Many of these are performance fabrics, and there are even some Crypton fabrics available for an added fluid barrier at a mid-range price point. Order the Flow and Edge card on our literature site today!

Maharam

We are very excited to offer two new fabrics from Maharam for several reasons. First, we’re able to offer a Maharam fabric at a grade 2 price point.Meldis part of an initiative to expand Maharam’s offering of core fabrics that appeal to the design world. Even better, it’s available in 43 different colorways, so you have plenty to choose from! Second, we’ve added MaharamApt, a grade 8 silicone fabric. Coming in at a lower cost than other silicone based fabrics, you can now offer your customer that durability and cleanability at an ideal price point.

Camira

Camira, based in the UK, is a new partner for us and we’re thrilled to be offering some of their fabrics. If you’re looking for 100% wool fabric,Blazer is now available for your soft seating needs. Even better, it’s only a grade 5, so it won’t break the bank! Additionally, if you want to add some visual interest to a panel or tack board, you can useBlazer Lite: a lightweight wool with that same felted finish.

Ultrafabrics

While Ultrafabrics isn’t a new partner for us, we love theirUltraleather Profor its feel and durability and had to add it to our lineup. This polyurethane fabric is known for cleanability—so we put it to the test. We made three seats in the purest white color we could find and tested its metal against a sandbag dressed in a pair of jeans. We repeatedly dropped those sandbags on the seats until there was enough dye transfer that they started to turn blue. After sitting for 30, 60, and 90 days, and a simple wipe with isopropyl alcohol made them all good as new—even the seat that was left for three months!

Photo Credit: Ultrafabrics

But that’s not all, folks; keep an eye out for July! We’ll be adding 13 new colors to Contourett; three new colors to our most durable fabric, Centurion; one new panel fabric; and introduce another Maharam card!

What’s your favorite fabric from our new offerings? Let us know in the comments!

It would seem these days that, if you want an ergonomic task chair that will stand the test of time while still being comfortable and looking good, you have to break the bank to pay for it. Or, if you can’t stretch the budget, you’re stuck with a chair that just doesn’t quite meet your needs. At HON, we saw the need for a budget-friendly chair that didn’t skimp on options to fill a gap in the marketplace, and from that observation, Convergence was born. A chair that will adapt to today’s changing workplace demands, be comfortable while doing it, and is backed by the HON brand is just what the doctor ordered—read on to find out more!

A Chair of All TradesWhat do you want in your desk chair? Style, functionality, comfort, and a reasonable price are the first things that come to mind. And who says you should have to sacrifice one to get the rest? Convergence certainly doesn’t. It offers a contemporary design to fit in with new workspaces, but still has a classic look that will integrate seamlessly with an existing layout. Need to switch things up quickly? Easy—just grab onto Convergence’s handle integrated within the top of the chair’s back and wheel away. And if you want to save some money in an area where you don’t need all the bells and whistles, you can do that, too. Convergence comes with several options to give you everything from the budget-friendly basic to the fully decked-out work chair.

Designed with Comfort in MindHow do you define comfort when it comes to your chair? It’s likely different from the person sitting next to you, but everyone can probably agree that there are a few key features when it comes to a comfortable chair, and Convergence fits that bill. The first thing you’ll notice when you sit down is the seat cushion—three inches of contoured foam that gives you comfort that won’t quit no matter how long you sit. There’s also an integrated lumbar support that’s easy to move when you want to change how it hits your back as your day progresses, and this makes it perfect for co-working spaces to adapt to different body types and preferences. Lastly, the adjustable arms and optional seat slider allow you to fine-tune your sit so that Convergence is the perfect fit, no matter what you’re doing or how you’re working.

Backed by HONMost chairs that come in at a budget-friendly price point wouldn’t have much else backing them up, but Convergence is much more than just a budget-friendly task chair. It’s designed, engineered, and assembled in the USA, and backed by the HON Full Lifetime Warranty. Convergence is not just a response to a flash in the pan trend—it’s a chair that will stand the test of time in the office of today and tomorrow.

When you think of HON, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe it’s our task seating. Maybe you know HON from the old days where our strongest suit was steel filing. Or, perhaps you are familiar with how we got started making recipe card boxes post World War II. If education furniture wasn’t something that popped into your head, you might be surprised to hear that HON has a very robust collection of learning solutions – a perfect example of our inspired practicality story. Take a look below at some of the ways HON has the right products for every space, every student and every type of learning.

More Than Just DesksToday’s classrooms are not the classrooms of yesteryear. With the passing of each academic year, more and more emphasis is placed on collaboration and integrating new learning techniques for today’s youth, from kindergarten classrooms all the way to up to higher education facilities. HON doesn’t just have student desks to have student desks; we conducted extensive research to better understand how teachers teach and students learn to create innovative, quality products that are affordable. Build™ is a perfect example of that: height-adjustable activity tables in 12 unique shapes that can be broken out for individual learning, or can be joined together for interaction. Pair that with our industry-leading laminate desks for administrators, comfortable task chairs for teachers that won’t break the bank, and Smartlink® or Motivate® chairs that are specifically designed with students in mind, and you’re looking at a one-stop shopping learning solution. (Check out the new Motivate Counter-Height Stool , designed to meet multiple-height seating needs in learning and commercial applications.)

Beyond the ClassroomCollaboration extends well beyond the classroom as well. Lounge spaces require access to power to meet the needs of today’s technology-dependent world. Enter Grove®: not only does it provide a comfortable and active posture to encourage productivity, but it also incorporates a table to give you the option of tablet arms, a powered grommet or pop-up port. It’s the perfect fix for anyone who needs to charge their phone while they talk about a project, or juice up their laptop as they race to the finish on a homework deadline. Solutions like Grove and Flock® are also great for previously unused spaces, like hallways, to add additional study and collaborative areas for students. (COMING SOON: An exciting expansion to the Flock collaborative collection.)

Designed with Learning in MindFor instances where you need a traditional primary or secondary education classroom solution, SmartLink provides the answer you need. Looking for both sitting- and standing-height student desks? SmartLink has you covered, offering fixed, adjustable, and sit-to-stand options, along with chairs in varying sizes and five chair heights ranging from 6”-18” to fit all students K-12. And, it doesn’t sacrifice innovation. The desks can be easily reconfigured in a variety of ways to accommodate different learning solutions. Last but not least, SmartLink also features unique storage that allows teachers to keep their classrooms organized—not an easy feat, as some would undoubtedly attest to. The unique design allows you to slide storage bins from the track integrated under the desktop to a lockable storage cabinet, so there’s a place for everything and everything is always in its place. (Be sure to check out the latest SmartLink additions, including 14″H and 16″H Cantilever chairs as well as a 6″H chair which supports reading circle-style active learning.)

These are just a few ways that HON can be leveraged in the education arena —share your HON learning stories with us in the comments below!

More than eight out of ten Americans report being stressed out about their jobs for one reason or another. And then there is the added stress that is inherent in our personal lives. Stress can lead to physical harm as severe as heart disease or diabetes, so it’s important that we learn how to keep it in check—especially in the office. Everyone has their own way of managing stress, but if you find yourself struggling, take a look at some of the ideas below on how to introduce some restoration and relaxation into your daily routine.

1. Yoga

It’s not just for soccer moms and spiritual soul searchers – yoga refocuses the mind, activates the central nervous system, and improves digestion (among other benefits), while being a great workout, to boot. Do a quick Google search for yoga studios around your area to find one that has a class that will cater to what you’re looking for. If you just want an hour all to yourself where you can focus on your breathing and tune out the rest of the world, maybe try a relax and restore class. If it’s harder for you to shut off your brain, go for something that will challenge you physically to allow you to block out external factors, like a Vinyasa flow or a heated power class. (And if you prefer, there are some great yoga instructors on YouTube for you to try in the privacy of your own home.) Regardless of what you choose, there’s guaranteed to be something that will float your boat and give you that escape you need to destress.

2. Deep Breathing

Taking a page out of yoga’s book, deep breathing is one of the quintessential stress management techniques. Since stress raises our heart rate and puts additional strain on the heart and nervous system, it’s important to make sure we can regulate that heart rate when the pressure really starts to kick in. The next time you’re battling a tight deadline at work or need to manage a high conflict situation, take thirty seconds to do some deep breathing exercises. Inhale for a count of five, and then exhale for that same five count. Or, imagine your torso is a glass of water—your inhale fills the glass from the bottom (your lower stomach) all the way to the top (the top of your chest). The exhale empties it. Even after just a few breaths you’ll notice your heart rate starting to slow, reestablishing a sense of ease and calm.

3. Stay Present

If you’re anything like me, part of the reason you’re stressed is because there are so many things going on in your life. You’ve got twenty things to juggle at one time for work, ten different social media outlets that you follow in your spare time, friends and family to spend time with, household chores—the list goes on and on. That leads to a lot of multi-tasking, which I could argue creates some of the stress we feel every day. Harvard conducted a study in 2010 that showed people spend 46.9% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they are doing, and that this generally makes them unhappy. A wandering mind is not a happy mind, nor is it the most productive. Staying present not only allows you to devote your entire self to any activity, but it also prevents quick trigger reactions that could have negative results. So when you find yourself in a high-stress situation, take a step back, analyze the situation, do some deep breathing for a minute or two, and then react. You’ll probably find yourself making much more calm and calculated decisions as a result.

These are just a handful of ways to easily introduce a little more relaxation into your daily life, and there are countless others that do the trick just as well—maybe better! Let us know how you manage stress in your life in the comments.

We’ve all been there. December is filled with the excitement of the holiday season and getting ready to usher in the new year. Then we get into the heart of winter, when day after day is filled with dreary gray skies and frigid temperatures – or in Iowa’s case, an ice storm – and the lack of sun makes it that much harder for your sunny disposition to shine through. But fear not! Here are some tried and true ways to perk you up this winter and battle those winter blues, tailored specifically to the office world.

Switch it up with some swatches

Have you ever heard the saying “You eat with your eyes first?” That may pertain to how chefs plate their food, but the same applies to your surroundings, whether that’s your living room at home or your desk at work. Which sounds more appealing to you: light grey walls, dark grey floors, no decorations, or some dark chocolate woodgrains, wall art with rich pops of color, and a steaming cup of hot cocoa? I personally would be much more motivated to work in an environment that is comforting and incorporates colors and design elements that encourage positive emotions and productivity. Whether it’s a matter of adding pops of color through fabric or changing it up with darker woodgrains, you can very easily make a space feel considerably more comfortable and inviting by taking inspiration from some of HON’s color palettes:

Are you a hot chocolate kind of gal? Maybe you like your coffee black in the largest receptacle you can find. Or is hot tea more your jam? Regardless, you need a place to enjoy your hot beverage of choice and to catch up with your coworkers before you start the day or over your lunch break. Why not sip on some cozy lounge seating, like HON’s new Grove® line. (Don’t forget to include a tablet arm so you’ve got a resting place for that hot cocoa in between sips, or pair it with a Flock® Mini with a Laminate Top!)

Get a change of scenery

Repetition is a surefire recipe for boredom, so make sure to switch up your routine to help stave off winter weariness. HON’s collaborative furniture solutions allow you to get a change of pace and a change of scenery while still maintaining work productivity. Here’s where the new Preside® collaborative tables and the complementary Arrange® tables and Accommodate® seating come in. Designed to be used in all different parts of the office, these lines offer a variety of heights, technology options, and sizes to give you a place to work wherever you are. It’s the perfect way to rejuvenate and regain some motivation on a long winter day.

What are your tried and true methods of staying motivated during the winter months?

If you took all of the different table lines that manufacturers had to offer and lined them up end to end, I would venture to say you could reach the moon and back more than a few times. The great news is that you only need one table line when it comes to finding the perfect fit for your office – the new Build table series from HON.

The Building Blocks of a Great Table:

AdaptabilityIn a society where millennials are quickly becoming the prevailing majority in the workforce, you need a table that will fit the work style of the millennial, the baby boomer, and something for when the two come together. Here are just four different ways you can use Build™ tables in today’s workplace:

Commons: Group a few together in the commons area for impromptu one-on-one meetings, group discussions, and everything in between.

Breakout: Integrate them into workstation areas to give employees a breakout meeting area without having to completely relocate.

Training: Use them in a training room, and rearrange as needed to accommodate any size group or any type of training.

Focused: Take advantage of unused nooks and smaller spaces in the office to give employees the opportunity to find a little quiet time.

AestheticOne of the oldest sayings in the book is that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. That’s equally true for what your office furniture says about you to your employees and visitors alike. Odds are, you’re going to want something that has a classic look without being overly outdated or staid.

Build™ offers not only 26 standard laminate options and 14 edge options, but also two different leg finishes, casters or glides and five unique and interchangeable table top shapes.

Feeling traditional? Pair a couple of rectangular tables in a classic woodgrain finish together for a mobile conference room. Want something a little more unique? Arrange six of the new kite tables in Pomegranate or Blue Agave laminate for a floral-inspired group setting.

Attention to DetailLike all HON products, Build™ was designed with the end user in mind. Inspired by practicality, HON created a table that could be used alone, or mixed and matched with others to create a space that is completely new. It includes height adjustability from 25” to 34” so that it fits just right for any individual. And of course, it’s backed by the HON Full Lifetime Warranty, so you can rest easy knowing that you and your purchase are covered.

If you’ve ever had any training in ergonomics, you probably know that one advantage of having an ergonomically-designed workspace is employee retention. An ergonomic workspace designed to promote wellness can help employees feel valued by management, increase their sense of worth and improve productivity. With HON, you can create healthier workspaces without sacrificing design. Take a look at the environment ideas below to see how you can create an office that is both functional and fashionable:

1. Keep Ergonomics in Mind While Maximizing the Office Footprint

Commercial real estate square footage is valuable, but just because you’re trying to save space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice ergonomics or looks—check out this great semi-private office setup that uses Voi® modular desks and the Ceres® task chair:

Without wasting any office footprint, this configuration empowers two individuals to choose between a sitting or standing height work position throughout the day. The Ceres task chair has been designed to reduce pressure on the backs of the legs and evenly distribute weight for proper support.

2. Make the Workspace Employee-Friendly

Sometimes leaving your bed in the morning is hard, and having to go into an office that isn’t visually inviting doesn’t make that task any easier. Help alleviate some of that difficulty by using elements like HON’s recently expanded active storage line – Contain®.

As offices continue to shift away from archival storage there’s a greater need for active storage that employees can use for more personal items. Contain is a perfect fit for those needs. Pair it with Voi, the Ceres task chair and some Flock® modular lounge seating and you’ve got a work area that has enough privacy to allow work to be completed, but is also a warm and inviting space where employees will want to spend their time.

3. Create an Office that Adapts to New Work Styles

Long gone are the days of individuals working heads-down in a cubicle for 8 hours—with the rise of the millennial generation, the way that people get work done is changing just as quickly as the age bracket of employees. There is an increased focus on collaboration in today’s office design that can be addressed by using products that cater to impromptu meetings, are technologically powered, and also provide a place to get away from your desk for a change of pace and to refresh your mind. Accommodate™ and Arrange™, HON’s newest seating and table lines, support an active and collaborative work style.

While providing a coordinated design aesthetic that could be utilized in any part of an office, these complementary product lines are versatile in their functionality as well. Use them in a café space that could also become an impromptu conference room, a break room where employees can have a midday snack and charge their phones, or pair with Flock for more of a booth-style solution.

The number of ways to style a workspace are endless, but one thing is certain: there’s no reason why an office can’t be both efficient and enjoyable.

What are your favorite new trends in office furniture and workplace design?